Biochemical properties of glycoproteins involved in lymphocyte recognition of high endothelial venules in man

Lymphocyte interactions with high endothelial venules (HEV) are important to the in vivo migration of normal and neoplastic lymphocyte populations. We have previously described an 85- to 95-kDa lymphocyte surface glycoprotein(s) defined by mAb Hermes-1, that is involved in the recognition of HEV by human lymphocytes: antibodies against distinct epitopes of the Hermes-1 Ag differentially inhibit lymphocyte binding to lymph node, mucosal, or synovial HEV. Here we characterize further the Hermes-1-defined glycoproteins. No well defined differences were observed between the Hermes-1 Ag immunoprecipitated from PBL and from mucosa- vs lymph HEV-specific cell lines. The Ag is an acidic (isoelectric point = 4.2) sulfated molecule bearing both O-linked and (3,4) N-linked oligosaccharide side chains. A subset of the Hermes-1-immunoprecipitated species is modified by covalent linkage to chondroitin sulfate, yielding a Mr of approximately 180 to 200 kDa. Pulse-chase labeling reveals a major precursor of 76 kDa that appears to be processed either to the 85- to 95-kDa form or, by addition of chondroitin sulfate, to a 180- to 200-kDa form. The potential role of these structural modifications, and particularly of chondroitin sulfate, in the function of the putative adhesion molecules is discussed.